The winner of the country’s most prestigious occupational health and safety award, RoSPA’s Sir George Earle Trophy, has been announced.

Wessex Engineering and Construction Services, part of Wessex Water, will be handed the trophy – the safety charity’s premier award – at a ceremony on Thursday (July 14).

The department is responsible for the design and construction of water treatment, waste water and network projects across the Wessex Water region, which spans Dorset, Somerset, Bristol, most of Wiltshire and part of Gloucestershire and Hampshire, and is also responsible for the repair and maintenance of assets, with typically 45,000 jobs happening each year.

Wessex Engineering and Construction Services was selected as the winner by the RoSPA Awards judging panel as it was identified as having unique, interesting and transferrable lessons to contribute to the rest of the UK industry.

This included an innovative and unique approach to changing behaviour, expanding the occupational safety and health awareness of teams while also engaging and using them as a source of innovation.

Tom Mullarkey, RoSPA chief executive, said: “Wessex Engineering and Construction Services showcased a senior leadership team, led by committed and insightful board-level input, supported by a wide range of senior management colleagues with the same philosophy and approach.

“Its strong safety leadership and innovation not just supports Wessex Water in its approach, but also allows it to share expertise with other companies in the group outside the UK. Engagement of the whole workforce in this way, including in the occupational health agenda, presented something new and interesting which others could learn from.

“We offer our congratulations to all the staff and others associated with Wessex Engineering and Construction Services who have contributed to its success in this year’s RoSPA Health and Safety Awards. We also want to congratulate this year’s other two finalists, Nuvia Limited and St Edward Homes Ltd, for their excellent entries.”

Mike Moriarty, director of Wessex Engineering and Construction Services, which has also won the Construction Engineering Industry Sector in the RoSPA Awards, said: “To receive the prestigious Sir George Earle Trophy is recognition of our excellent health and safety culture and acknowledgement of our continued commitment to the safety and welfare of our staff, colleagues and the general public.

“Being recognised by the world renowned RoSPA organisation is a real honour and we are extremely proud of this fantastic achievement.”

The presentation will be made during the second of two banquets taking place in Birmingham on Wednesday and Thursday (July 13-14) as part of the 60th annual RoSPA Health and Safety Awards.

The awards programme, which is sponsored by NEBOSH (the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health), is the largest and longest-running occupational health and safety awards programme in the UK. It recognises organisations’ commitment to continuous improvement in the prevention of accidents and ill health at work, looking at entrants’ overarching health and safety management systems, including practices such as leadership and workforce involvement.

A ceremony has already taken place, at ExCeL London last month, and there will be another in Glasgow on September 15.

There were nearly 2,000 registered entries in the scheme this year. While the majority of awards are non-competitive, competitive awards are presented in 20 industry sectors and for specialist areas of health and safety management.

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